Shooting victims' families most likely suing cops

S. Sumatra School’s Virginity Test Plan Draws Criticism

A plan by the Education Agency of Prabumulih, South Sumatra, to include virginity tests as part of its high school admission requirements has drawn the ire of legislators and education experts, who say that such an exam is a violation of personal space and an obstruction to a student’s right to an education.

H.M. Rasyid, the chief of Prabumulih’s Education Agency, told the Indonesian news portal kompas.com on Monday that increasing instances of premarital sex and prostitution among female students prompted the move.

“We’re planning on conducting virginity tests for senior high school students,” Rasyid said. “We have proposed it in the 2014 regional budget.”

Dedi Gumilar, a lawmaker from the House of Representatives Commission X, which oversees educational matters, criticized the plan and questioned its constitutionality.

“Do we have a law stating that students must be holy? It’s written in the country’s constitution that every citizen has the right to education,” he told the Jakarta Globe on Tuesday.

Deputy chair of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) Masruchah also disagreed with the idea, saying that a student’s body wasn’t the dominion of a public official.

“Virginity is a personal problem, and a person has the right over their own body,” Masruchah said. “The [Prabumulih] Education Agency has no right to control a student’s body.”

Rasyid, meanwhile, admitted that the city’s plan could be easily misunderstood.
“Every woman has the right to virginity, though on the other hand, we expect students to not commit negative acts. Therefore, we plan to implement the policy next year.”

Masruchah said that a student’s morality should not be validated by whether or not they have had sexual intercourse.

“What if a student was a rape victim and failed the test?” Masruchah said. “[It is possible for] students to lose their virginity due to accidents.”

Masruchah advised Rasyid to consider including sexual education in the school’s curriculum instead of virginity tests.

“It’s overrated. Morality cannot be determined by [a student's] genitals,” he said.

“What will they do with the test results? Are they going to reveal which students are not virgins?”
Ibnu Hamad, a spokesman of the Education Ministry, said that the ministry could only counsel the agency against instituting the examination.

“It’s a technical policy which is determined by the head of the local education agency,” Ibnu told the Jakarta Globe on Tuesday. “We can advise that whatever policy they implement, it should not hamper a student’s access to education.”

Virginity tests — which are viewed as harmful and invasive — examine a woman’s hymen in order to determine whether or not she has engaged in sexual intercourse.

Will Perak squatter issue ever be solved?

On Friday night, DAP Ipoh Barat members and I met with the residents Kg Tai Lee to hold discussions on finding a solution to the plight that they have been facing.

There is a pending court case to evict them in the High Court. The case has been heard for three days and is now fixed for final hearing in September.

The residents had built their houses with assurances by the initial land owner that they could stay there as long as they wished.

The village, which is located on private land within the Ipoh City area, is now comprised of 50 houses and 75 families who are the third generation Kg Tai Lee residents.

All the residents are from the lower income group. They are all worried that they will be evicted and become homeless.

Just before the 2008 general election, the residents were informed by the Ipoh Land Office that they would be relocated in Pusing, but this has remained an empty election promise till today.

There were also repeated assurances that the residents would be given state housing lots, but all these too have never materialised.

Sometime on Jan 3, 2010, there was a gotong-royong event organised by the state government with the Kg Tai Lee residents. At the gotong-royong, the Perak Mentri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir ordered the local council of Ipoh (MBI) to find a solution to settle the issue faced by the residents.

However, nothing has happened so far.

We have written to both the mayor and the mentri besar of Perak to find a permanent solution to the plight of the residents and let’s see if the BN government can live up to their ‘Janji di Tepati’ slogan.

In fact, sometime in 2000, the former mentri besar of Perak, Tajol Rosli Ghazali, had assured all that Perak would be squatter-free by the year 2005. But 2005 has passed by and there are thousands still in squatter settlements in Perak.

Recently Zambry has apparently promised 2015 as the new date for Perak to be declared squatter-free. The ‘goalpost’ keeps on changing all the time!

Presently there are over 14, 000 squatters in Perak, according to the Perak Economic Planning Unit. When will the issue of squatters be ever resolved?


Obviously, the state government lacks political will power to attend to the homeless.

It’s no use declaring a date which the state government cannot fulfill. What is needed is real commitment to a ‘blue print’ policy decision on this matter.

We suggest that the state government set up a high level committee to formulate a new policy and ways to settle squatter issues in Perak.

---

M KULA SEGARAN is MP for Ipoh Barat and DAP national vice-chairperson.

'NS pregnancy test may push girls to drastic measures'

The mandatory pregnancy test for young women selected to attend National Service is not only an “infringement of privacy” but could cause more harm than good, said women's rights groups.

This is because unmarried trainees may be pushed to take “drastic action” to prevent the pregnancy from being detected.

“We don't want to traumatise these young people (to the extent) that they feel their only resort is to risk a botched abortion,” Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) executive director Ivy Josiah said when contacted.

Through her experience at WAO, she has found that after mediation, families and the community do provide support for young women even if they are pregnant out of wedlock.

“Families and the community can be understanding but often we find it is the authorities wagging their fingers,” she said, adding that mandatory testing also has an element of shame to it.

It was announced yesterday that all female National Service trainees must have a pregnancy test. Since the programme started in 2004, six trainees have given birth while at camp.

National Service director-general Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil claimed that a survey involving 4,500 trainees and their parents in 2011 found that 94 percent are for the mandatory tests.

All Women's Action Society (Awam) president Ho Yock Lin said the trainees are adults and forcing them to take such tests is an “infringement of privacy”.

“Some of them are even working adults. Imagine if an employer makes all employees take pregnancy tests. Adults would not stand for it,” she said.

Ho (left) said it appears that the move is to keep pregnant young women out of the camps and that this is discriminatory, especially for those who want to join the programme.

The test should be offered on a voluntary basis, she said, as should other tests - including those for drugs and medical issues - which could help camp counsellers prepare for the trainees’ needs.

If 94 percent of trainees and parents agree to to mandatory pregnancy tests, then a voluntary test would have a similar response, she noted.

“There should be a choice, and when someone is found to be pregnant she can either be allowed to come back after she has delivered, or she may be excused from the more streneous exercises.

“Someone giving birth at the camp is just like someone having a heart attack at the camp. They have a heart attack, you send them to a hospital, they rest.”

‘Safe place required’

While society may not want young people to get pregnant, use recreational drugs or even take up smoking or drinking, Ho said that being punitive or forcing tests on them will not help.

Instead, the National Service programme should be used as a place for education, as well as a safe place where young women with an unplanned pregnancy, can come forward.

“A school principal does not want her students pregnant at 14, but she can't test the students. So what she does is she helps a girl if she is pregnant, but at the same time educates other students about such issues,” Ho said.

Josiah said this will actually address issue of clandestine births at the camps - one young woman reportedly gave birth in a toilet, out of fear or shame.

“They should look at creating an environment where a young woman can tell a counsellor, so the camp will be aware and she won't be pushed to give birth in secret.”

There is also no indication of what will happen to a trainee who is found to be pregnant, and if assistance will be provided to them, she said.

She urged the implementation of sex education modules developed by women's rights NGOs and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry for National Service trainees in 2008.

“I don't know if they are being implemented as there was a lot of resistance to it then, but the fact is, romance and lust is in the air,” she added.

“If girls are turning up at the camps pregnant then we know this is age when they are exposed to sexual activities and they need to be educated about it.”

Waytha questions manner of killing of suspects

Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia chairperson P Waythamoorthy has questioned the manner in which police killed five men in a shoot-out in Penang as photographs and the injuries suggest they were shot “point blank”.

Waythamoorthy (left), who is also a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said he had seen photographs of the Penang shooting sent by his sources.
After viewing them, he said no one in the right frame of mind would believe that there was actually a shoot-out between the police and those killed.

He warned that the people have been monitoring the police statements closely over the years.

“Each time the police appear to be giving a standard answer that they were shot at and acted in self-defence. But the injuries do not describe a shoot-out situation while the photographs show they were shot point blank,” said Waythamoorthy.


He said it was baffling that Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar (centre in photo) had concluded that the three weapons retrieved from the suspects were related to 10 murder cases.

“One wonders how such ballistic tests could have been carried out at superspeed, and even if that was possible, how they could be linked to 10 previous murders so hastily.
"The people no longer believe the standard answers of self-defence by the police. The force needs to be overhauled,” Waythamoorthy said.

“If the police have been observing the suspects for some time now, as they claimed, we see no reason why they could not be apprehended and brought to face justice."
'Fired in self-defence'
Khalid said yesterday that police had fired in self-defence, and had linked the three pistols retrieved to 10 murders and two attempted murder cases.
However, a family member of one of those killed claimed that they were shot “like animals”.

Waythamoorthy said the Indian Malaysian community was very concerned that they appeared to have become the target of a “shoot-to-kill” policy.

In past years, he said, many youths have been shot dead and police were not able to justify their actions.

Acknowledging that crime was getting serious now and police needed to handle the matter, Waythamoorthy said shooting suspects dead was not the way to go about this.

“Hindraf urges the attorney-general to immediately call an inquest to determine the cause of death of the five youths. The evidence is still fresh and an immediate inquest would dispel the mistrust the community has on police investigating their own alleged misconduct.

“Hindraf urges that a thorough investigation be carried out by an independent body that would restore the trust of the people,"he added.

Families want cops charged with murder

Families of deceased says they are not satisfied with the police press statement that the slayed were wanted for murders.
FULL REPORT

GEORGE TOWN: Aggrieved families of the five alleged members of Gang 04 who were gunned down by police on Monday demanded that the authorities haul the shooters to court.

Accompanied by their lawyer, Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer, families of the four deceased have lodged separate police reports but with the same contents at the Jalan Patani police station here.

Only the older Gobinath family did not lodge police report last night.

In their reports, the families said they were not satisfied with the police press statement that the deceased were gang members and were wanted for several murders.

They reported that they saw several bullet marks on the deceased when they were called on to identify the bodies at the forensic centre in Penang Hospital.

“We want the authorities to take firm action on those behind the brutal killing of my son,” said VR Murugasen, 52, father of the deceased Suresh.

Police shot and killed the five during a raid on an apartment unit in Sungai Nibong at 4.30am on Monday.

They were Gobinath Jayasooryam, 31; Ramesh Raganathan, 27; N Rakan, 25; Suresh Murugasen, 25; and Gobinath Myavanam, 21.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar had claimed that the five were notorious gang members involved in 10 murders and two attempted-murder since last year.

Initially, family members said they would not collect the bodies until a second post-mortem has been done.

But they collected the bodies last night after the police assured them that there would be no cover up in the case.

Rayer said the police had informed him and the families that they would not conceal any forensic evidence or facts of the case from them or the public.

“The police assured the families that they would be transparent and truthful in the full forensic report, which should be out in few days time,” said Rayer.

The funerals are expected to be held today according to Hindu rites.

Execution-style shooting

Police sources said records showed that except for the younger Gobinath, the rest of the deceased had past criminal records.

Large crowd, mostly family members, friends and relatives had gathered outside the forensic centre at the mortuary premises since morning upon hearing news of the killings.

Many were in tears and shock while some were upset and angry.

The families demanded IGP Khalid and state police chief deputy commissioner Abdul Rahim Hanafi to explain why the police resorted to brutal killings instead of apprehending the five.

They questioned the police on why they failed to arrest and charge the five in court if they were truly criminal suspects.

The older Gobinath was supposed to tie the knot next month.

Rayer, who was at the scene, questioned the police on the need to carry out an execution-style shooting when the raiding party could have apprehended the deceased.

He recalled similar execution style police shootings taking the lives of six ethnic Indians in Tanah Merah and Kulim several years ago.

Many who spoke to the press alleged that the police had covered the truth, practised double standards, committed brutal murder by abusing the law and planted the guns after the shooting.

“If (it is) true that the five who shot dead other people were sharpshooters, then why were there not a single policeman injured,” asked some.

Showing photo images of the killings, which had gone viral on social media, they alleged that the police had killed the deceased in their sleep and not in a crossfire as claimed by the force.

They said photo images and identification at the mortuary allegedly showed that each deceased was shot at point-blank several times.

Rayer said initial forensic results showed each deceased had been shot between two and five times.

Suresh’s mother, R Parimala, 47, said her son had called and talked to her on the phone at 3am, some 90 minutes before he was was gunned down by the police.

“He was shot four times in his sleep. Why?” she asked.

Family members and friends of the deceased alleged that the photo images showed guns had been wrapped with cloth in the left hand of some the deceased when they were right-handed.

They showed a photo image of a dead younger Gobinath, who is right-handed, having a gun in his left hand.

Friends said Gobinath can’t even lift high his left hand after undergoing an operation several years ago.

Grand finale for slain five


Meanwhile, this evening, large crowd, mostly youths, held a grand finale for the five men gunned down by the police.

The crowd held some three-hour funeral procession before cremating the bodies of the five.

Both Gobinaths’ funeral were held in mainland while the rest was on the island.

Accompanied musical beats of Indian traditional “tappu” drums, the crowd played fireworks throughout the procession and even after the bodies were being cremated.

Najib helps strike deal in MIC

Prime Minister averts a contest between G Palanivel and his deputy Dr S Subramaniam for the party's top post on Sept 22.
UPDATED

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak averted a contest between party president G Palanivel and his deputy Dr S Subramaniam for the party’s top post on Sept 22.

In a late night meeting on Sunday, Najib, who is also the BN chairman, managed to pacify both parties and ensured they agreed to a peace deal and an amicable transfer of power in the future.

Sources close to Palanivel and Dr Subramaniam confirmed that the duo had received instructions to “tone down work” on the ground and they have stopped canvassing for votes.

FMT learnt that Palanivel and Dr Subramaniam will not face contests for their respective positions in the party this year.

Although the presidential election would be held next month, election of other national office bearers – deputy president, three vice presidents and 23 CWC members, would be held in November.

To contest for the party top post, a candidate needs to get 50 nominations. Each nomination must be proposed by one branch chairman and seconded by five other branch chairmen.

In all, a candidate for the party top post needs to obtain support of 300 branch chairmen to contest.

“Dr Subramaniam has made a sacrifice. The deal is that Palanivel will stay on for another term which is until 2016.

“Dr Subramaniam will take over after that. He is making a sacrifice…he has decided not to contest when he has already obtained enough nominations to make a bid for the party’s top post.

“He also knows that he stands a good chance of winning but he is giving it up…he is taking a huge risk as anything can happen within the next three years,” said the source.

Sources revealed that Najib met Palanivel, Dr Subramaniam, party vice presidents M Saravanan and SK Devamany at his official residence Sunday night.

“Dr Subramaniam was asked to reconsider his decision to fight for the top post for the sake of party unity. He gave his word that he will not fight. But they have also worked out other things…such as ensuring a smooth transition of power in 2016.

“Dr Subramaniam will from now have an added edge in the party. He would now become the de facto president. Palanivel will be warming the chair for the next three years,” said the source.

Both Palanivel and Dr Subramaniam are expected to hold a press conference on Thursday to explain their stand.

Palanivel confident of no contest

Meanwhile Bernama reported that Palanivel was confident he would retain the post of the MIC president.

He said he also believed that Dr Subramaniam would be returned as deputy president unopposed as well.

“This is because there will be no powerful challengers to the posts of president and deputy president,” he said, adding that Dr Subramaniam would not be contesting the post of president as speculated.

Speaking to reporters after launching the Asian Mining and Energy Investment (AMEI) Forum 2013 here, he said “more people” would be contesting the three posts of vice-president and the 23 posts in the central working committee (CWC).

The MIC president will be elected by the party’s 4,200 branch chairmen nationwide. The deputy president, three vice-presidents and 23 central working committee (CWC) members will be elected by 1,500 party delegates.

Palanivel said he had received 1,500 nominations (for the post of president) so far, and added that the nominations could reach 1,800 by tomorrow and might exceed 3,000 by next week when nomination closes.

“Things look good. I don’t think there will be a contest,” said Palanivel, who took over as president of the party, which boasts 680,000 members in 3,988 branches nationwide, from S Samy Vellu in 2010.

On party matters, Palanivel said party leaders were working on constitutional reform to bring about major changes to strengthen the MIC so that it would not be seen as a party on the decline.

“Every state chairman must be elected, and not appointed. This includes the office bearers like the secretary and treasurer. Appointing them will not work. We need to elect them to strengthen the party. That is what we need, similar to Umno’s system of electing division chiefs,” he said.

683 individuals arrested in special operation

Selangor Acting Police Chief says of the 683 arrested, 211 are aged between 14 and 40.

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor police had arrested 683 in a special operation codename, Operasi Khas Cegah Jenayah, since its launch on Aug 17.

Selangor Acting Police Chief A Thaiveegan said at a press conference today that of the 683 arrested for allegedly being involved in various criminal offences, including possession of firearms and dangerous weapons and drugs, 211 were aged between 14 and 40.

“We carried out this operation through roadblocks all over Selangor and checks on individuals, vehicles and some premises in the state. We managed to seize 11 machetes, five knives, two sticks batons, 10 units of mobile phones, seven cars, housebreaking equipment, five motorcycles as well as some amount of cash,” he said.

Thaiveeegan added that the suspects were all detained under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and if the police are unable to complete the investigation within 24 hours from the time of arrest, the detainees will be produced before the Magistrate who will authorise the police to further detain the person as provided for under S117(2) of the CPC to facilitate investigation.

“We will continue with this operation to hunt down more criminals and will conduct more inspection of premises and outlets as well as employees without legitimate documentations,” he added.

When further asked about the arrest, Thaiveegan said he has yet to receive the full details of the operation as investigations are ongoing while assuring the public that crime rate has been reduced

“At the moment, we are gathering information from the detainees but I strongly believe that the crime rate in Selangor has declined,” he said, urging the public to come forward if they have any information on criminal activities.

“I hope the public can come forward and assist us with the information on any illegal activities,” he added.

One of five killed had friend’s IC

One of the five shot dead by police in Sungai Nibong had the identity card of his friend.
UPDATED

GEORGE TOWN: It was a case of mistaken identity when one of the five shot dead by police at an apartment in Sungai Nibong yesterday had the identity card of his friend.

N Rakan, 25, was having the identity card of A Vinuvt 23, when he was shot dead at the apartment at 4.30am on Monday.

The legal counsel for the bereaving families, RSN Rayer, confirmed that the wife and mother had identified Rakan’s body at the mortuary in Penang Hospital last night.

The other four dead were J Gobinath, 31, R Ramesh, 27, M Suresh, 25, and M Gobinath 21.

Rayer said Rakan’s wife had told her husband to return Vinuvt’s identity card a few days ago.

She does not know the reason why her husband was having Vinuvt’s identity card.

Vinuvt’s family was at the mortuary last night to collect his identity card but the police had turned them away.

Rayer said the police would return the identity card only after they had questioned Vinuvt to help in investigations.

Questions unanswered

On related matter, Penang MIC youth chief J Dhinagaran questioned on why the police did not attempt to arrest the alleged gang members first before opening fire against them.

He also said that if the alleged gang members had shot the police, their bodies would not have been found in separate rooms, where family members claimed that they were sleeping.

“If the men had been awake and indeed there had been a shootout, the five men would have been in the front, firing against the police and not found dead in the rooms. This is a mystery which the police would have to explain,” said Dhinagaran.

He also queried on how the police could have come to the immediate conclusion that they had already solved many murders cases across the country with the death of the five youths.

“We don’t want to see the police to be trigger happy but we want them to focus on detaining the criminals and bring them to justice,” said Dhinagaran.

Nomination forms anger MIC branch heads

“The party wants to go in a new direction but we are still clinging to old ways. How are we going to get the support from the Indian community if they see MIC carrying on the same old way?” 

(The Malay Mail) - The upcoming MIC party elections have come under scrutiny again following allegations of a new method of intimidation that allows the party to identify those opposing party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.

Several branch chairmen claim the nomination forms for the president’s post came with the president’s name printed on it.

“This type of nomination forms will not allow for a free and fair presidential election,” said a branch chairman, who wanted to remain anonymous.

He said this could prevent others from challenging for the post.

“The party headquarters may claim this was how it was done during the tenure of former party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu but it does not mean it is the right thing to do,” he said.

“MIC members should have spoken out about this but none did. We should not accept practices which were not right.

“The party wants to go in a new direction but we are still clinging to old ways. How are we going to get the support from the Indian community if they see MIC carrying on the same old way?”

The branch chairman said a few of his colleagues informed him they received two sets of forms — one with Palanivel’s name printed on them and the other blank.

“The blank forms are for branch chairmen known to be against Palanivel,” he said.

Some 3,900 branch chairmen are eligible to vote at the election next month. A candidate must get 50 nominations before he is eligible to contest.

Each nomination form must have the signatures of six branch chairmen.

This means a candidate must have 300 branch chairmen supporting the nomination.

How can the Malays ever progress?

Yes, I read and I possess reading material that many may frown upon. And since possession of reading material on Shia is a crime and you can get arrested and get sent to jail for being in possession of such reading material, I would probably face no less than 150 criminal charges if the Malaysian government ever gets its hands on me.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

(Bernama) - Two individuals, including a female doctor, pleaded not guilty in the Lower Syariah Court here today to possession of documents and books on Syiah teachings.

The doctor, Nur Azah Abdul Halim, 41, is alleged to have committed the offence at No 41, Jalan Medan Kamunting, Medan Kamunting, while Mohammad Ridzuan Yusof, 31, is charged with having the documents and books at a house, No 125, Lorong Jelutong, Kampung Jana Sambungan, Kamunting.

The offence, under Section 16 of the Perak Syariah Criminal Enactment 1992, was allegedly committed last Aug 5.

Nur Azah and Mohammad Ridzuan face fine of RM3,000 or two years' jail or both, if found guilty.

Syariah judge Azman Saad set Oct 8 for mention and ordered the two accused to be released on bail.

*********************************************

Apparently being in possession of documents and books is now a crime in Malaysia and you can get arrested and will be sent to jail for being in possession of ‘forbidden’ material.

But what would these forbidden material be? Well, it all depends on what it is that the government classifies as forbidden. In the news report above it relates to material regarding Shia (or Syiah) teachings.

You see, Shia teachings are banned in Malaysia. Therefore, if you practice Shia teachings or are a follower of the Shia movement -- and apparently if you are even just in possession of Shia material -- you can get arrested.

What else is banned or considered a crime in Malaysia?

Communism is a crime in Malaysia. In fact, Communist parties are banned. But what if you have books or material about Lenin, Stalin, Che, Trotsky, Mao, etc. -- or you have a copy of Chin Peng’s memoirs -- will you be arrested and get sent to jail? I have numerous books on the above, plus more.

I suppose if you go by the above news report regarding Shia teachings then you can be arrested for being in possession of those as well. Hence, if I return to Malaysia, and even if they do not charge me for my ‘old crimes’, they can always charge me for ‘new crimes’ such as being in possession of books on Communism and being in possession of the biographies and autobiographies of renowned Communist leaders.

Malaysian Muslims are not allowed to leave Islam (or follow what some would regard as ‘deviant’ Islam). Apostasy and heresy are a crime in Malaysia. But I have many books about atheism, Christianity, and books on Islam written by authors whom orthodox or fundamentalist Muslims would regard as blasphemous or heretics. Even the books on Islam that I possess question the ‘popular’ belief regarding Islam and ‘shed new light’ on what the orthodox or fundamentalist Muslims believe to be the ‘correct’ version of Islamic history and Islamic teachings.

In fact, if you were to search my library both here in Manchester as well as back in Kuala Lumpur, you would probably find more than 100 books on politics, religion and so on -- including biographies, autobiographies and books on history -- that would most likely constitute a crime in Malaysia.

Yes, I read and I possess reading material that many may frown upon. And since possession of reading material on Shia is a crime and you can get arrested and get sent to jail for being in possession of such reading material, I would probably face no less than 150 criminal charges if the Malaysian government ever gets its hands on me.

Let me assure you, my books on organised religion will curl the toes of the Malay ulama’ (religious scholars). They will shudder and utter mashaAllah if they see the books that I possess. They will ask me to taubat (repent) and ‘return to the right path’. Some may even get a heart attack if they see my library.

Sodomy is a crime in Malaysia, as is same-sex relationships. I also have VCDs about gay marriages -- some are even comedies. And they are damn good and award winning movies, may I add. Can I get arrested and be sent to jail for this?

I am also a subscriber to Netflix and amongst the many genres that it has is a section on gay movies. These are not porn or sex movies but dramas. And they are damn good dramas, mind you. So I watch them. Will I get arrested and be sent to jail for watching ‘forbidden’ movies?

In fact, my first Oxford course that I took about three years ago was Philosophy of Religion. And I published my essay here in Malaysia Today. I actually passed that course with full marks and that gave me the encouragement to take more courses on English and European history (all which I also passed with full marks).

One friend, lawyer Rosli Dahalan, was actually quite perturbed when he read my essay because I had written that the original religion of the Abrahamic faith is the religion of Abraham whereas Judaism is Version 1.0 (which Jesus opposed) while Christianity is Version 2.0 and Islam is Version 3.0 of Abraham’s religion.

Hence the roots or ‘operating system’ is the religion of Abraham while Judaism, Christianity and Islam are merely Versions 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 respectively -- in other words, modified or ‘improved’ versions if you wish (depending on whether you are a Jew, Christian or Muslim).

That assumption or conclusion got me full marks and Oxford saw fit to agree with my view. Can that essay get me arrested since it breaks away from the ‘traditional view’ about what Judaism, Christianity and Islam really are?

Yes, if learning, expressing your views, being in possession of ‘forbidden’ reading material, etc. -- or material that disputes what the government says -- is a crime, and if each offence attracts two years jail and/or a fine of RM3,000, then I shall be in jail for 500 years plus will have to pay a fine of not less than RM500,000.

How in heaven’s name do I return to Malaysia without serving a 500-year jail sentence and be RM500,000 poorer for the 150 ‘crimes’ that I have committed?

And you want the Malays to be progressive? Forget it! No community that is banned from reading and thinking can ever be progressive. And you think that the New Economic Policy can help the Malays to progress if the Malay mind is forever closed?

Nonsense! Until the Malays are allowed to think they will forever remain backward. Trust me on this one.

SUHAKAM LAUDS PM’S ASSURANCE FOR NOT INTRODUCING LAWS RESTRICTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) is gratified at, and warmly welcomes,
the Prime Minister’s assurance that laws that restrict human rights and liberties or that
empower the authorities to detain individuals without trial would not be introduced in the
Government’s effort to combat crimes. The Commission also commends the Prime Minister for
recognising the need to strike a balance between human rights and public interest. These views
are in line with the Commission’s consistent stand in response to the proposal to reinstate
preventive detention laws in overcoming the spike in crimes, and also very much in keeping
with the country's goal of becoming a vibrant and fully functional democracy and a developed
nation in the not too distant future.

In supporting the Government’s pledge to act in the face of the increasing crime rates and to
restore public safety, the Commission reiterates its hope that any measures taken by the
Government to provide a more secure society will not be dealt through preventive detention
laws that deprive the people’s fundamental liberty and rights to fair trial.

The Commission also calls upon the Government to conduct a thorough study and review of the
country’s national policy on safety as a long-term measure to safeguard public security should it
feel that the existing laws are insufficient to address the growing crime rates.

“HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL”
TAN SRI HASMY AGAM
Chairman
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
20 August 2013